Wild Monkeys in Susono

We got a bit of a late start on this morning's bike ride, but being Saturday and chilly and cloudy, we weren't really in a hurry to get going. Turns out we had good timing, and, for a change, also had the camera handy for our most recent monkey encounter.

Probably about a kilometre or so from home, in the bushes alongside Rt. 246, we found ourselves surrounded by a pack of wild Japanese macaques. The locals warn never to make eye contact and basically to stay well away from the little buggers - but we couldn't resist getting at least one shot of this dominant male who seemed to be the leader and protector of the pack. Not long after, they fled into the protection of the trees.


I shot this with our little Lumix LZ1 (a small point-and-shoot camera), but Brian takes credit for cornering the beast!